The 2026/27 Zwift Racing League (ZRL) series has started in complete chaos, with Zwift and organizer World Tactical Racing Leagues (WTRL) annulling every Race 1 result because of technical errors.
The opening race was a “Race of Truth” time trial, scored like a points race but with drafting and TT bike features turned off on the esports virtual cycling platform. Unfortunately, that was not how Zwift’s technical parameters were configured on Tuesday 22 September 2026. The error left TT bikes enabled in some events, giving those riders a significant aerodynamic advantage. Published league settings state that TT bikes are disabled for points and scratch races.
Afterwards, Zwift emailed competitors with an apology and announced that all ZRL Race 1 results had been annulled — effectively as if the race had never happened.
The email also cited registration and roster problems that affected a number of teams. These disrupted league allocations and prevented some squads from starting. Zwift said wiping the slate clean would give everyone a level starting point.
Every team will begin Race 2 on zero points, and Round 1 standings will be decided over the five remaining races. Zwift also promised additional quality-assurance checks before each race. Race 2 is scheduled for Tuesday 29 September 2026.
On the r/zwift subreddit, reaction was mixed. One rider said finishing fifth on a standard bike was disappointing, but that the effort still counted. Another accused WTRL, a paid contractor, of repeated failures, while others accepted the apology.
The episode adds to a difficult stretch for Zwift’s virtual racing programs. We reported in July 2025 on the decision to cancel the Elite Zwift World Series and more recently on the troubled rollout of Zwift’s Gravel Racing Series in April 2026.
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